The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the Salt Lake City and Provo areas have met the 2006 PM2.5 24-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) targets, marking their attainment after 15 years. This achievement results from a collaborative effort between the state of Utah and the EPA, demonstrating a commitment to clean air in line with the Clean Air Act.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative emphasizes providing clean air for all Americans and promoting cooperative federalism. EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western said, "The people of Utah deserve clean air and practical solutions that recognize the realities of life in the Salt Lake City and Provo areas." He highlighted Utah's decade-long efforts to improve air quality, showcasing that federal standards can be met while respecting local priorities.
Bryce Bird, Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality, noted that cleaner air in Utah resulted from extensive planning and collaboration among public entities, industry, and government levels. Significant investments led to implementing 23 new rules targeting emissions from various sources. The state legislature supported these efforts by incentivizing retrofitting high-emission wood stoves and diesel vehicles and enhancing transit systems alongside public education campaigns.
Since 2009, Salt Lake City and Provo were designated as nonattainment areas for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. The recent EPA action redesignates these areas as attainment zones, outlining how Utah will maintain this status through at least 2035. Control measures recognized as Best Available Control Measures/Technologies are part of this plan to ensure ongoing compliance with air quality standards.
On November 6, 2020, EPA proposed approval of Utah’s redesignation requests along with maintenance plans for Serious PM2.5 nonattainment areas in Salt Lake City and Provo. The final rule includes responses to comments on this proposal and clears seven backlogged State Implementation Plan submissions by December 15, 2025.
For more information on particulate matter pollution, visit EPA’s Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution website: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution
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